Why do you wear that scarf on your head?-PART 1

Why do you wear that rag on your head? Do you wear it in the shower? Do you wear it at home? I understand that its because of your religion but what does that mean? I have been asked this probably a dozen times, and surprisingly I'd like to thank all of you for asking. For anyone reading this, I'd like to tell you that if you're ever wondering about something please ASK!I would prefer that much better than people getting their information from the media. Unfortunately the media portrays Muslims in a very negative, and completely inaccurate light. Anyway, back to the question, Why? Why do I wear my head scarf? The simple answer is "because God told me too" but that's not the full answer. In truth there are three parts to this "rag" or "hijab" as we call it in Arabic. There is the numerous benefits that we get from wearing the hijab, there is the ultimate reason why we wear it, and finally there are the rules concerning the hijab and how Muslim women must wear it. For starters, as I stated before, there are many benefits to wearing the scarf. The best I believe is the status it gives women. It raises us women to a more repective scale. When a woman wears the hijab and covers her body, it forces the man to look at her as an intelligent human being as opposed to some pretty object. Naturally, when a man looks at a woman, the first thing you see is their beauty, whether they're good looking or not. This is natural. However, as a result the man looks at the woman as an object  which he may want or desire, or he may think she is not beautiful and completely dismiss her. The hijab sets all women equal to each other based on their appearance. Thus, when a women goes in for an interview, she is judged based on her intelligence and hard work ethic, as opposed to her beauty. You'd be surprised how many executive officers hire women into their work area based on their attractiveness! Also, when a woman covers her body, a man gives her alot more respect because he knows that she wants to be taken seriously. When my mom was in medical school, everyone told her about this horrible teacher/doctor who swore right and left. Everyone hated that about him and my mom dreaded the day that she would also have to study under him. When that day came she was surprised at his politeness. The whole day he didn't swear once because he realized he was in front of a woman who was serious, honest, but most importabtly respected herself. Thus he respected her for that. The hijab gives a woman confidence that success is not based upon beauty, and outside appearance. I'm not saying that every person who doesn't wear the hijab is shallow, I have many friends (both Muslim, and not) who don't wear the scarf, but unfortunately there are some people who base their entire success on the shallowness of outer beauty; i'm specifically referring to models and prostitutes. They have really stooped so low, to the place wear their success depends on how attractive they look. They are only their for men to look at, which in truth is not what we women were created for! In Islam, we hold marriage as a beautiful, and honorable action. And one of the beauties of Islam is that as a woman we complete our husband's deen (faith), we are the gift to our fathers, when we become mothers, heaven lies beneath our feet (this just means that if you serve your mom you get great reward). So you see? Women have a very high status in Islam, and we are so much more important than what you see on the outside.